Interchangeable-character construction



INTER'CHANGEABLE CHARACTER CONSTRUCTI ON` Filed Dec. l2. 1921 PatentedJuly 24, 1923.

MICHAEL J'. HOGAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

in'rnncnanenanrn-cnenac'rna oonsraccttvroiv.

,Application filed December 12, V1921. Serial No. 521,582.

To all/whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, MICHAEL J. HOGAN, a citizen of the-,United States,residing at Chicago,in thecounty of Cook and State oi' lllinoisfha-veinvented new and useful 1mproveniente in Interchangeable Character'Constructions, oi which the following is a full, clear, concise, andexa-ct description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing,forming a part ot this"sp`eci hic-ation.

My invention relates to' interchangeable character construction.

One of the objects ot' my invention is to provide an Vimprovedinterchangeable character construction which can be worked out in metalso as to give aY solid substantial appearance both from therontand'fback, such a construction b eing desirable for high gradeoiliceuse, banks,'building directories, memorial tablets, and the like.

"A iirtherA object 'of invention is to provide an improvedinterchangeable chai acterconstruction suitable ior use asindicatedabove, in which the slot in the metal tabletwill be closed in the rearby an integral part or `the metal tablet, thereby vpre` venting foreignsubstances from getting into the slot from the rear.`

A further object of my invention is to provide improved means wherebythe char` acters may be forced snugly against each otherto close up thespaces or cracks between the characters and hold them snugly in place.

Further objects will appear from the detailed description to follow andfrom the appended claims.

In the drawings in which two embodiments of my invention are shownFigure 1 is a front elevational view of a desk sign;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the plate without end support andcharacters;

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view of one of the end supports;

Fig. 4 is a section o-n the line 4 4 ot' Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5 5 ot Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view substantially on the line 6 6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a perspective View showing the back side of one of thecharacters;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the front side of one of thelcharacters;

,Fig `9 is a front elevation showing my invention 'as applied: t abuilding directory; `Fig. 10 is asection on `the line` 10 l0 oif Fig.9;-and

Fig. 11 is a section on the line 11 11 oiFig.9. i `Referring first toFigs., 1 to 7 inclusive, the construction yshown therein comprises apivotally mounted "name-plate or `'delsk-Ilate 10, on which are,detachably mounted the interchangeably type' blocks 11. `.The;c:onstruction is such'that the type blocks can be readily reinoved andreplaced by others whenever desired, as when a'chang'e inpersonnel ismade. The construction such'that it 'can'hardly be noticedi that thecharacters are not cast as an integralfpart of thesnpporting"plat`e,`the entire appearance 'being solid and substantial looking. i' l Theplate'lO may, if desired, be a bronze casting, having a" longitudinallyextending slot 12 milled therein to receivefthe hooks'haped shanks 13oi' the characters 11.*

ln order to provide for the entry of `the hook-shaped Shanks' 13intothe' angular slot 12, a recess 14 is provided at one entl of theplate 10,' adj acent "the slot 12, "toupermit the entry of the shank4,13 at this point. After the shank 13 has entered the" recess 14, thetype block is dropped downtov en gage the `point of the hook 413underneath tlie upwardvly `"extending "lip 15 5). .l`he'fcharacterscanl` then be slipped along the slot 12 to their proper position on theplate. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the slot 12 is open on the front faceof the plate, but is completely closed by the material of the plate inthe rea-r of the slot, so that foreign substances cannot enter the slotfrom the rear of the plate. This construction also gives a neatappearance to the rear of the plate.

ln order to press the type blocks firmly against each other, to close upthe gaps or cracks between them, and give the type blocks the appearanceof being practically integral with the supporting plate 10, a pair ofscrews 16 are provided, one at each end of the tablet, each having a`threaded engagement with the supporting plate 10, and having a pointbearing on the edge of one of the type blocks 11 (Fig. 6).

These screws 16 serve not only to clamp the type blocks in position, butalso serve to pivotally support the plate 10 on the end brackets 17, asthe screws extend through the bearing openings 18 in these end brackets.

In using the device, if it is desired to change the name or othercharacters on the tablet or plate 10, the screws 16 are loosened up tofree the type blocks, and the type blocks can then be removed one at atime, b'y sliding them to the right end of the' table or plate 10, untilthe shanlrs 13 are opposite the recess `14C, when they can be pulledforwardly out of engagement with the plate.

ln Figs. 9, 1() and 11, my invention is shown applied to a directory,such as is used in large office buildings. The construction shown inthese gures comprises the large plate 19, which may be of bronze orother suitableV material, the type blocks 20, mounted on the plate 19,and the screws 21 threaded into the plate 19, and bearing on the typeblocks 2O for holding them snugly against each other, the constructionand operation of these blocks being the same ask the construction andoperation of the corresponding partsof the construction previously`described. rlhe heads of the screws 21 may be located in channels 22, inthe plate 19, and may have squared ends for engagement with a wrench orother suitable tool `for tightening them up. The heads of these y'screwsmay be concealed from View by means of a cover plate 23 secured to theplate 19 vby means oitscrews 211, provided with ornamental heads orhandles 25, for giving an ornamental appearance to .the board, and foruse inl operating the screws 24.

`In this form of my invention, if it is desired to change one of' thenames, the cover-plate 23 may be removed giving access to the screws 21,which are then iloosened upto permit the type blocks 20 to be slidlongitudinally to the end of the groove where they can be disengagedjust as in the construction first described.

While I have shown but two embodiments of my invention, it may beembodied in other forms covered and delined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what l claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An interchangeable character construction, comprising a tablet havinga slot therein, and a plurality of characters each having a hook-likeshank engageable in said slot, said tablet comprising an integral metalplate in which the slot is located, having a longitudinally extendinglip overhanging a portion of said slot for retaining said hoolke shank,said slot 'being open on the front face of said integral metal member,the material of said integral metal plate eX- tending across and closingthe rear of said slot to prevent foreign material from entering saidslot Jr'rom the rear and to provide a iinished appearance `to the rearof said tablet.

2. An interchangeable character construction comprising a plate having aslot therein, and a plurality of characters havingca hook-like shankengageable in said slot, and means for, pivotally supporting said plateand forcing said letters snugly against each other, comprising a supportand a pivot screw threaded into said support for pivotally supportingthe plate, and for bearing on one of the characters to force itlongitudinally oi' said slot.

1n witness whereof, 1 `have hereunto subscribed my name. i

MICHAEL J. HO GAN.

